Maharashtra’s Film City Revives In Belagavi Smart City With Cultural Mega Project.

ND Studio to spearhead the rebooted art zone across 3.5 acres; minister Ashish Shelar relaunches works

In a significant revival for Maharashtra’s cultural and cinematic ambitions, the state’s famed Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari (Film City) is set to make a comeback—this time in Belagavi’s Smart City project zone. The initiative, envisioned earlier by late art director Nitin Desai and executed via ND Studio, Cultural mega project Maharashtrawas stalled due to technical issues and Desai’s tragic demise. Now, with ownership reclaimed by the Maharashtra government, the project has officially been restarted.

The re-inauguration ceremony, held in Belagavi, was presided over by Cultural Affairs and IT Minister Ashish Shelar, alongside key officials from ND Studio and the Belagavi Smart City team. The event marks a new phase for the 3.5-acre art and heritage zone, which will feature recreations of five rural clusters from various Indian regions, a skywalk gallery, and interactive art exhibits, reflecting a blend of tradition and modernity.

This effort is backed by Goregaon Film City, the primary cinematic hub in Mumbai, which will oversee the new site’s construction. Officials including Goregaon Film City’s Deputy Managing Director Prashant Sajnicar, CFO Chitralekha Khatu, Assistant Accounts Officer Mahesh Bhange, and Belagavi Smart City MD Saeeda Afrin were present. Local MLA Abhay Patil played a key role in facilitating coordination between stakeholders and ensuring the revival’s momentum.

Minister Shelar praised the project’s renewed focus, noting that Maharashtra continues to lead India’s cinematic infrastructure. ND Studio’s artistic legacy and technical facilities, now under state control, will be instrumental in shaping the future of multi-location, theme-based film tourism.

This revival also highlights Maharashtra’s commitment to decentralizing cultural investments, extending beyond Mumbai’s saturated production landscape to include regional cities like Belagavi, which are being transformed into Smart City hubs.